The Poughkeepsie Tapes

The filmmakers that brought audiences "Devil," "Quarantine," and "As Above, So Below" made their first feature film back in 2007. Brothers John and Drew Dowdle made an auspicious debut with "The Poughkeepsie Tapes," yet this found-footage horror movie sat around in limbo; that is, until now. Scream Factory gives the film a chance to find an audience on Blu-ray.

"The Poughkeepsie Tapes" was shot documentary-style and mimics how FBI profilers use certain serial killer cases as training. It looks real enough, with grainy VHS tape footage of a supposed real-life story that took place in the 1990s. The Water Street Butcher, as the serial killer is referred to in the movie, took the time to document his killing spree in graphic detail.

I found "The Poughkeepsie Tapes" quite hard to watch at times. Viewing victims get into a car with the killer and get approached randomly (especially young children in many of the film's disturbing scenes) made me flinch. And the very downbeat ending may put a sour taste in your mouth. But this is the horror genre, and not everything is wrapped up nicely in a bow. "The Poughkeepsie Tapes" will more than likely divide horror fans, mostly with the use of the overused found-footage format.

On Scream Factory's Blu-ray, special features are minimal, but the two interview segments are worth a watch:

"Sorting Through the Tapes" - The Dowdle brothers talk about their writing process and how they came up with the idea for the movie.

"The Willing Victim" - An interview with actress Stacy Chbosky who plays the lone survivor of the serial killer in "The Poughkeepsie Tapes."

"The Poughkeepsie Tapes"Blu-ray$29.99www.shoutfactory.com

Ken Tasho is a Corporate Drone by day and Edge Contributor by night. He has a love for all things ’80’s and resides in the Wayland Square area of Providence, RI...but would much rather be sharing an apartment in NYC with ’80’s rock goddesses Pat Benatar and Deborah Harry.